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- Nokia N900 Unlocked Phone/Mobile Computer with 3.5-Inch Touchscreen, QWERTY, 5 MP Camera, Maemo Browser, 32 GB--U.S. Version with Full Warranty
Nokia N900 Unlocked Phone/Mobile Computer with 3.5-Inch Touchscreen, QWERTY, 5 MP Camera, Maemo Browser, 32 GB--U.S. Version with Full Warranty
- Average Rating:
- List Price:
-
$649.00
- Our Price:
- $527.99
- You Save:
- $121.01 (19%)
Product Info
- Brand: Nokia
- EAN: 0758478018729
- Manufacturer: Nokia
Features
- This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Not all carrier features may be supported. It will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Sprint.
- Optimized for WCDMA 900/1700/2100, Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, Optimized for 3G networks on WCDMA 900/1700/2100 Quad-band EGSM, 850/900/1800/1900. Does not support 3G on AT&T network.
- Mobile computer with full cellular voice and messaging capabilities, 3.5-inch touchscreen display, slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, and powerful Maemo 5 operating system
- 5-megapixel camera/camcorder; GPS for navigation and location services; Wi-Fi networking; Bluetooth stereo music; digital media player; personal and corporate email
- What's in the Box: handset, battery, travel charger, stereo headset (WH-205), video out cable (CA-75U), cleaning cloth, operating instructions
Spotlight customer reviews:
- Customer Rating:
- Summary: Absoutely a keeper
- Comment: I should start by saying that I'm one who doesn't mind making a few adjustments when leaving an old phone for a new one. I've been using the N900 for almost 30 days.
It is my opinion that most of the negative points in the reviews seem a little extra specialized in nature. i.e. They aren't really show stoppers for the typical user. Although some issues are real, I found others to be petty, not quite accurate or already fixed through software updates. Reading the online (101 page) manual helps too.
There is only one real issue with the N900 for me:
* Portrait view is supported only in phone function. A portrait option for all functions would clearly make the N900 easier to handle and use.
Things I didn't like at first but now consider non-issues.
There isn't a To-Do List but I've learned to use the Task function on Calendar and now, it actually works better than the To-Do List I was using on my previous Nokia.
Sound is not adjustable (no equalizer) when using audio through Media player. After a couple of weeks, this has become a non-issue. Essentially, the sound from this unit's two speakers is above average.
Regarding the touch screen: At first I was using the stylus but gradually migrated over to the touch screen in combination with the physical and online keyboard. It's a breeze once you get on to it.
The phone did seem a little heavy at first but this too became a non-issue. Considering we're only talking about an ounce or two, I (somehow) managed to adapt. I added a wrist strap which has been helpful.
Issues raised in other reviews:
I have experienced no technical issues; No freezing or lock ups as described in some reviews. The phone performed perfectly out of the box. I've used Bluetooth and have had no issues.
Regarding battery life: I charge this phone mostly every night and sometimes hook up the car charger during the day. I've been doing this for years with all my phones. You never know when you're going to use up a large chunk of battery, no matter what phone you have.
Call quality and reception is outstanding. Web browsing is smooth and very fast.
The four desktops provide ample room for shortcuts to frequently used applications. Once your shortcuts are set up, you can pretty much go anywhere you want with just one or two touches of the screen.
With a 16GB memory card, I was able to sync mp3 files through Windows Media and contacts through Outlook Express without a hitch. Just a couple of clicks for each process and the phone took over.
In all honestly, the more I use this phone, the more I like it. I also take comfort in knowing I have a quality device made by Nokia, who, in my opinion, has always been the real leader in cell phone technology and design.
- Customer Rating:
- Summary: Know What You're Getting Into First
- Comment: Nokia has marketed and represented this "phone" appropriately -- that is, as a "Phone/Mobile Computer" -- a phone, and a mobile computer, at least in equal parts. If you want a phone that offers fantastic "phone" functionality in terms of great speaker volume during conversations, easy dialing, missed call lists, voice mail, crystal clear call quality with fantastic battery life, then definitely, without a doubt, look elsewhere.
This device is all about give and take. It does things that no great "phone" can do, and not even dream of doing, fantastically well. That is, the N900, with the right operator, can be at least 90% as functional and useful as a lap top computer but with the total mobility that comes with a cell phone.
For example, the N900 will render web pages in full "standard computer" format without any compromise, and do it beautifully without any hiccups on its 16 million color display. The N900's independent GPU and super fast processor speed up flipping through menus and rendering graphics SUBSTANTIALLY. In fact, I have never witnessed a phone that comes as close to true "laptop" web browsing and functionality, all while having the convenience of a tablet interface. It's as simple as that.
Also, while there are definitely lag problems with the e-mail client that comes standard with the N900, it can certainly be argued that A) despite some delay, the e-mail client works well functionally speaking, and B) it renders e-mails in a great format that, again, mimics a laptop much more than any mobile phone I've ever used. As a professional who needs access to e-mail, and, almost as importantly, attachments and links contained within those e-mails, this phone does substantially better than any other comparable device (and I've owned or used MANY of them -- from the iPhone, to the MotoQ/Droid, etc., you name it).
The widgets and programs that come with the N900 are also well designed and functional. Without getting into extreme detail, all of the programs and widgets I've used so far operate very smoothly, and very, very quickly. Using the Maemo OS, you can flip through windows at lightening speed with no delays or hiccups, and run dozens of programs simultaneously without any noticeable slow down. While there are admittedly a limited number of programs and widgets available right now, really, there is a Maemo equivalent "app" for all of the main, most popular iPhone Apps. If you want the equivalent of the iPhone App that is specifically for finding the closest vintage record store so that you can congregate with other Apple d-bags, you are out of luck, sorry. For the rest of us, every program you want or need you have access to.
So, here is a summary:
Pro:
-Blazing fast speed in the operating system
-Email client that allows you to view e-mails in a nicely laid out format with all access to links and attachments. Great for professionals.
-Widgets and programs that have been developed that are useful and entertaining
-Very high quality components and build; a signature of Nokia phones. They are simply head and shoulders above any other phone manufacturer in quality, ESPECIALLY Apple.
-Great internet integration, and if you are willing to switch to T-Mobile (I did with no problems), very fast 3G utilization.
-Surprisingly wide range of compatibility given that Maemo is such a unique platform
Cons:
-Hiccups and slowdowns with e-mail and phone functions, but these are generally tolerable and hopefully will get better with firmware updates.
-Limited number of programs and widgets available.
-If you don't know how to control battery consumption, watch out, because you will be charging this phone a LOT.
-Expensive and not (yet) available through a service contract.
-Not as user-friendly as competitive devices, such as the iPhone (though that's about the only place the iPhone wins, and honestly the N900 is arguably MORE user friendly to the moderate to highly tech savvy community).
The bottom line is that you NEED to research what you are getting into before you buy this phone, because if you're just buying this because it's the newest, latest, greatest phone, especially if you are coming from an iPhone that you loved for its ease of use, watch out, because you will probably be frustrated with this device (at least at first). Like any great tool, in order to maximize its use, this device really depends on an operator who knows what s/he is doing. So just read up, research, and then enjoy what is a great product from Nokia.
- Customer Rating:
- Summary: Best. Phone. Ever.
- Comment: I'm a Linux guru; I've written Linux drivers; I use Linux every day at work and at home; the freedom and power are what keep me coming back for more. That being said, I'm always willing to admit flaws in Linux, and one of the biggest is that it isn't marketed or packaged well but anyone who brings up desktop issues or constant changes is just fooling themselves (quick - can you name how to change the wireless settings in Windows 7? Vista? XP? 2000? notice how all those answers are different? and yet people gripe about having to learn a new environment if they switched to Linux).
I was a previous Treo 650 owner, which I kept holding onto because I could put any software I wanted on it. Yes, even things you couldn't find for iPhone (namely, OGG support and a programming environment). Not to mention I didn't have to pay someone $99/year for the privilege of hacking my own hardware. I waited to upgrade for an open phone, preferably one running Linux. I found out about the OpenMoko, but it didn't have a hardware keyboard and wasn't very well polished. I found out about Android, but it's almost as bad as iPhone with requiring you to only program in Java. Then I heard about the N900.
This thing is truly a fully fledged computer in the palm of your hand. The first time I opened a terminal and started typing in commands I use every day, I was in love. The fact that almost all the apps I use on my Treo already have equivalents on the N900 makes it a dream come true. The UI is intuitive, smooth and beautiful. My wife, the non-computer nerd, is drooling over this device.
The N900 combines everything a computer should have: power, flexibility, polish and portability. Even if this device didn't have all the openness about it, it would still be one of the best smartphones out there.
Year of Linux on the desktop? Pssh, desktops are so 1999. 2010 will be remembered as the year Linux started taking over end user machines everywhere - from ebook readers to smartphones to netbooks to tablets - and made desktop computers irrelevant.
- Customer Rating:
- Summary: Not ready yet
- Comment: Waiting a week after having ordered it, I was excited to see how this phone would do its thing. Note that I have Nokia E63 and was very happy with its performance and was expecting N900 to blow it away. Unfortunately it was not so. The battery life was just awful. After using it for just couple hours the battery indicator showed halfway mark. I was told that I had to run couple cycles to create battery memory. I did not remember reading that for this phone. Other reviewers reported decent battery life and I will check to see if it improves or it may be defective. Note that the E63 initially did have poor battery life but after updating and upgrading the software for the N63, the battery life improved considerably so that I did not feel like I had to look for an electrical outlet.
Email is just slow for the N900. I have Gmail account and it just works on Nokia E63. I searched for solutions on the N900 and so far have not found it. It is just inexcusable that basic things like email would perform so poorly compared to the slower cousin like Nokia E63.
Map and GPS. The interface is just horrible. Not usable. No memory for previous trips; no Home feature that is expected on GPS (after finishing a trip, just click on HOME to go back home). It is Ovis Map version 1.0 and it does not have speech feature for directions. We had to go back using the Garmin GPS. That was sure disappointing.
Contacts: This phone combined the email addresses, chat and IM nicks and Phone contacts into one book. I did not like it. I like to separate the phone contacts from chat and email lists. Maybe it is something to get used to. Right now, to make phone calls, I have to go to Contacts and then select a name to call. With Nokia E63 I was able to type couple letters on the main desktop and it would direct me to the Contact's list starting with those letters. It did not work that way on the N900. It could be solved with software or some kind of programming.
Stylus. I was shocked to see the stylus on the phone. That brought me back memories of Palm Pilot back in the 90's and thus gave me a strong feeling that it was going backward and not forward. After using it for couple days, I do have to admit that using stylus is far better and easier than using fingers. Coupled that if you use fingers on the touch screen, it gets oily and dirty fast. The control is very accurate using stylus and it became second nature.
Browsing the internet. Not too bad. Sometimes pages load slow but it is readable even with small print. I am nearsighted so it was not a problem seeing the small print. If you were farsighted and or have Presbyopia, it would present problem but you can easily make it larger by moving the volume button up to make screen larger or you can tap it couple times to make it larger. The challenge is with tapping that it sometimes works and sometimes it does not. My friend has the other unit and it does not enlarge when tapping. It seems like there is a way to turn it ON and OFF but I guess we have to read the manual.
The Screen. This unit has the most awesome screen I have seen for small factor tablet / phone.
They keyboard. Not too bad. I find myself with the thumbs hitting the bottom part of the screen frame. I wish that they could move the screen frame further away from the keyboard.
3G Phone connection. Not bad. The WIFI connection works great though. I have downloaded the entire Don Quijote from Gutenberg site and it took seconds. There are not too many apps available for this phone and I wanted a Bible and so I downloaded several books from the Bible on the Gutenberg site and that fulfilled a need for now.
My recommendation? If you are just a plain consumer who likes their product to work with no problems, I would NOT recommend this product YET. The iPhone is popular for a reason. I do not have one myself for the simple reason it is locked with ATT and that the batteries are not removable (easily at least).
If you are a geek who are into programming and enjoy solving problems (believe me, there are problems with these phones!) this phone would be great for them. I went to Fry's Electronics couple days ago and the phone guy shared that they had 15 on stock and it was gone in a week.
I do wish Nokia the best in producing a phone that works and specs sounded great for this phone but the reality is that it is not ready yet. That is disappointing.
- Customer Rating:
- Summary: Great " genius" phone!
- Comment: So far, so good with my n900- I can make Skype calls (I will be getting T-mobile's Pay As You Go, soon), browse the internet, take pretty good pictures (try it outside!) listen to music, watch movies, etc. I don't know how it stacks up against the other phones out there, but for me, the n900 saves me money- the built-in Skype app means I don't have to buy a lot of minutes, and I cancelled my Verizon plan. I took a star off because the user interface is not wonderful- I wish I could search the device better. But as a phone/mini laptop, I think it is great! I already feel the loss if I leave it at home.
